Condition Basics

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation (say "AY-tree-uhl fih-bruh-LAY-shun") is a common type of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Normally, the heart beats in a strong, steady rhythm. In atrial fibrillation, a problem with the heart's electrical system causes the two upper chambers of the heart (called the atria) to quiver, or fibrillate.

Atrial fibrillation can be dangerous. This is because if the heartbeat isn't strong and steady, blood can collect, or pool, in the atria. And pooled blood is more likely to form clots. Clots can travel to the brain, block blood flow, and cause a stroke. Atrial fibrillation can also lead to heart failure.

This condition also upsets the normal rhythm between the atria and the lower chambers of the heart. (These chambers are called the ventricles.) The ventricles may beat fast and without a regular rhythm.

What causes it?

Atrial fibrillation is caused by health problems that damage or strain the heart and its electrical system. These problems include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. Other causes include heart surgery, lung disease, or an overactive thyroid gland.

What are the symptoms?

Some people feel symptoms when they have episodes of atrial fibrillation. But other people don't notice any symptoms. There are a few different symptoms, such as chest discomfort, sweating, feeling anxious, having trouble concentrating, feeling dizzy, tired, or short of breath. Some people feel a fluttering, racing, or pounding feeling in their chest (called palpitations).

How is it diagnosed?

To see if you have atrial fibrillation, you will have an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). An EKG is a test that checks for problems with the heart's electrical activity. Your doctor will do a physical examination. You may have other tests that check the health of your heart.

How is atrial fibrillation treated?

Treatments can help you feel better and prevent future problems, especially stroke and heart failure.

Your treatment will depend on the cause of your atrial fibrillation, your symptoms, and your risk for stroke. Types of treatment include:

• Heart rate treatment. Medicine may be used to slow your heart rate. Your heartbeat may still be irregular. But these medicines keep your heart from beating too fast. They may also help relieve symptoms.
• Heart rhythm treatment. Different treatments may be used to try to stop atrial fibrillation and keep it from returning. They can also relieve symptoms. These treatments include medicine, electrical cardioversion to shock the heart back to a normal rhythm, a procedure called catheter ablation, and heart surgery.
• Stroke prevention. You and your doctor can decide how to lower your risk. You may decide to take a blood-thinning medicine such as aspirin or an anticoagulant.

Cause

Atrial fibrillation is caused by a problem with the heart's electrical system. When something goes wrong with this system, it's usually because of other health problems that are causing wear and tear on the heart or making it hard for the heart to do its job.

Conditions that damage or strain the heart are the most common causes of atrial fibrillation. These include:

Other possible causes include:

• Having heart surgery or other open-chest surgery.
• Hyperthyroidism.
• Lung disease, such as COPD or pneumonia.
• Drinking a large amount of alcohol at one time (binge drinking).

In some cases, doctors can't find the cause of atrial fibrillation.

What Increases Your Risk

A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting sick or having a problem. Risk factors for atrial fibrillation include:

• Age older than 60.
• Being male.
• Obesity.
• Sleep apnea.
• A family history of atrial fibrillation.
• Other health problems that can cause atrial fibrillation. These include high blood pressure and certain heart problems.

You may have certain habits that increase your risk for atrial fibrillation because they can cause wear and tear on your heart. These lifestyle choices include:

• Long-term, heavy alcohol use, or drinking a large amount of alcohol at one time (binge drinking).
• Smoking.

Symptoms

Some people feel symptoms when they have episodes of atrial fibrillation. But other people don't notice any symptoms.

If you have symptoms, you may feel:

• A fluttering, racing, or pounding feeling in your chest called palpitations.
• Weak or tired.
• Dizzy or light-headed.
• Short of breath.
• Chest pain.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Sweating.
• Feeling anxious.

You may notice signs of atrial fibrillation when you check your pulse. Your pulse may seem uneven or fast.

What Happens

At first, spells of atrial fibrillation may come on suddenly and last a short time. It may go away on its own or with treatment. Over time, the spells may last longer and occur more often. They often don't go away on their own. During these spells, you may feel symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, or weakness.

Atrial fibrillation can be dangerous because if the heartbeat isn't strong and steady, blood can collect, or pool, in your heart. And pooled blood is more likely to form clots. Clots can travel to the brain, block blood flow, and cause a stroke. A fast, uncontrolled heartbeat also increases your risk for heart failure.

Treating atrial fibrillation is important, because treatment can relieve symptoms and lower your risk of stroke and heart failure.

When to Call a Doctor

Call 9-1-1 or other emergency services immediately if you:

• Have symptoms of a heart attack, such as chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, and nausea.
• Have symptoms of a stroke, such as sudden vision changes; trouble speaking; or numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of movement in your face or an arm or a leg.
• Feel faint and have an irregular heartbeat.

If you see someone pass out, call 9-1-1 or other emergency services immediately.

Call your doctor if you have:

• An irregular heart rate.
• Heart palpitations.
• Periods of unexplained light-headedness, dizziness, or confusion.
• An episode of fainting or you come close to fainting for no apparent reason.
• Shortness of breath that gets worse with exercise.

If you take a blood thinner

If you take blood-thinning medicine, watch for signs of bleeding.

Call 9-1-1 or other emergency services immediately if you:

• Have a sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches. (It may be a sign of bleeding in the brain.)

Call your doctor now if you have any unusual bleeding, such as:

• Nosebleeds.
• Vaginal bleeding that is different (heavier, more frequent, at a different time of the month) than what you are used to.
• Bloody or black stools, or rectal bleeding.
• Bloody or pink urine.

Examinations and Tests

To see if you have atrial fibrillation, you will have an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). An EKG is a test that checks for problems with the heart's electrical activity.

Your doctor will probably ask questions about your past health and do a physical examination.

Other tests

Other tests your doctor may recommend include:

Ambulatory electrocardiogram.

For this test, you wear a device that records the electrical activity of your heart while you do your usual activities. You may have this test if your doctor suspects that you have atrial fibrillation that comes and goes. This test is referred to by several names, including Holter monitoring and cardiac event monitoring.

Electrophysiology (EP) study.

This test can help your doctor see if there is a problem with your heartbeat (heart rhythm) and find out how to fix it.

Exercise electrocardiogram.

Also called a stress test, this test will help your doctor see if you have coronary artery disease.

Echocardiogram.

This test can show if your heart valves are damaged, how well your heart is pumping, and if you have heart failure or have had a heart attack.

A blood test.

You may have a blood test to check for hyperthyroidism.

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Treatment Overview

Treatments for atrial fibrillation can help you feel better and prevent future problems, especially stroke and heart failure. Your treatment will depend on the cause of your atrial fibrillation, your symptoms, and your risk for stroke.

The main types of treatment will:

• Slow your heart rate.
• Control your heart rhythm.
• Prevent stroke.

You can also help manage atrial fibrillation by having a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Atrial fibrillation caused by a condition that is treatable, such as pneumonia or hyperthyroidism, often goes away when that condition is treated.

Treatment to slow your heart rate

Rate-control medicines.

Rate-control medicines are used if your heart rate is too fast. They usually don't return your heart to a normal rhythm, so your heartbeat will still be irregular. But these medicines can keep your heart from beating at a dangerously fast rate.

These medicines may also relieve symptoms.

Treatment to control your heart rhythm

Treatment to control your heart rhythm is done to try to stop atrial fibrillation and keep it from returning. It may also help your symptoms. Treatments include:

Rhythm-control medicines.

These medicines are also called antiarrhythmics.

Electrical cardioversion.

This procedure uses a low-voltage electrical shock to return the heart to a normal rhythm.

Catheter ablation.

This procedure, which is done with a thin tube called a catheter, destroys tiny areas in the heart that cause atrial fibrillation. Ablation can relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

AV node ablation is another type of catheter ablation. It does not stop atrial fibrillation, but it can relieve symptoms.

Maze procedure.

This procedure is done through small cuts in the chest or during open-heart surgery. It creates scar tissue that blocks excess electrical impulses from travelling through your heart.

Treatment to prevent stroke

Blood thinners.

You may take a medicine, called an anticoagulant or blood thinner, to help prevent a stroke. This medicine prevents blood clots.

Your doctor can help you know your risk of a stroke based on your age and health. This information can help you and your doctor decide how to lower your risk.

• If you are at an average-to-high risk of having a stroke, your doctor may recommend long-term use of an anticoagulant medicine to lower this risk.
• If you are at low risk of having a stroke or you can't take an anticoagulant, you may choose to not take a blood thinning medicine.

Device.

A device may be implanted to lower the risk of stroke. The device can prevent blood clots from moving out of the heart and causing a stroke. The device is placed inside of the heart with a procedure that uses catheters in blood vessels. This device might be used in some people who cannot take a blood thinner.

Heart-healthy lifestyle

You can live well and help manage atrial fibrillation by having a heart-healthy lifestyle.

A heart-healthy lifestyle includes healthy eating, losing weight, being active, and not smoking.

These healthy habits may help reduce how often you have episodes of atrial fibrillation. If you are overweight, losing weight can help relieve symptoms.

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Self-Care

Many people are able to live full and active lives with atrial fibrillation. Most people don't have to change their daily activities.

You can live well and help manage atrial fibrillation by having a heart-healthy lifestyle, taking medicine properly, and managing other health problems. You can work with your doctor to help manage your symptoms.

Have a heart-healthy lifestyle

Because atrial fibrillation is often the result of a heart condition, making changes to improve your heart condition will usually improve your overall health.

A heart-healthy lifestyle may help reduce how often you have episodes of atrial fibrillation. If you are overweight, losing weight can help relieve symptoms.

To have a heart-healthy lifestyle:

• Don't smoke. Avoid second-hand smoke too.
• Eat heart-healthy foods.
• Be active. Talk to your doctor about what type and level of exercise is safe for you.
• Stay at a healthy weight. Lose weight if you need to.
• Manage stress. Treatments like yoga, biofeedback, and meditation may help.
• Limit alcohol. Limit alcohol to 3 drinks a day for men and 2 drinks a day for women. Avoid alcohol if it triggers symptoms.

Take medicine properly and safely

Taking medicine can help you feel better and prevent future problems.

• Take your medicines exactly as prescribed.
• If you take a blood thinner to prevent a stroke, be sure you get instructions about how to take your medicine safely. Blood thinners can cause serious bleeding problems.
• Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicine. Tell your doctor all of the medicines you take. Some prescription and non-prescription medicines can interact with your heart medicines. Some non-prescription medicines, especially cold remedies and natural health products, contain stimulants that can trigger atrial fibrillation.

Manage other health problems

Manage other health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Know the signs of sleep apnea. Tell your doctor if you have symptoms such as snoring and feeling sleepy during the day. Many people with atrial fibrillation also have sleep apnea.

Avoid infections such as COVID-19, colds, and influenza (flu). Get the flu vaccine every year. Get a pneumococcal vaccine. If you have had one before, ask your doctor whether you need another dose. Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines.

Manage symptoms

Treatments for atrial fibrillation can relieve symptoms. But managing symptoms, or episodes, can be easier for some people than others. That's because some people only have mild symptoms, and they learn how to deal with them. But other people can struggle and they feel like their episodes are controlling their lives.

Work with your doctor to treat your symptoms. Tell your doctor how symptoms affect your life. Your doctor can help you find ways to manage episodes.

There are a few things you can try. They include:

• Making an action plan with your doctor. Then you'll have things to try when you have an episode. For example, you might try things that are calming, like breathing and relaxation exercises.
• Using a symptom diary. You can try to find out what triggers your symptoms. Then you can try to avoid your triggers if possible. For example, avoid alcohol if it triggers symptoms.

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Medicines

If you have atrial fibrillation, you may take medicine to help prevent a stroke. You may also take medicine that slows your heart rate or controls your heart rhythm.

Medicine to prevent a stroke

Your doctor can help you know your risk of a stroke based on your age and health. This information can help you and your doctor decide how to lower your risk.

Anticoagulant medicines, also called blood thinners, are recommended for most people with atrial fibrillation who are at average to high risk of stroke.

If you are at low risk of having a stroke, you may choose to not take an anticoagulant.

Anticoagulant choices include:

• Apixaban (Eliquis).
• Dabigatran (Pradaxa).
• Edoxaban (Lixiana).
• Rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
• Warfarin.

Medicine to slow your heart rate

Rate-control medicines are used if your heart rate is too fast. The medicine slows your heart rate. Your heart rate may not need to be very low. A heart rate of 110 beats per minute may be enough to help you.

These medicines include:

• Beta-blockers.
• Calcium channel blockers.
• Digoxin.

Rate-control medicines may relieve symptoms caused by the fast heart rate. But these medicines may not relieve other symptoms caused by atrial fibrillation.

Medicine to control your heart rhythm

Rhythm-control medicines (also known as antiarrhythmics) help return the heart to its normal rhythm and keep atrial fibrillation from returning. They may help relieve symptoms caused by an irregular heart rate.

Learn more